What is the difference between cholesterol and fat? (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)
To a
lay person, both the terms - cholesterol and fat - seem alike and often
interchangeable. It is important to know the difference between cholesterol and
fat; you don't want to exclude them completely from your diet.
What is fat?
'Fats
consist of a wide group of compounds that are generally soluble in organic
solvents and generally insoluble in water.' - as mentioned in Fat, wikipedia
Types
of fat in food:
Unsaturated
fat
Monounsaturated
fat
Polyunsaturated
fat
Trans
fat
Cis
fat
Omega
fatty acids
Saturated
fat - this fat is responsible for heart disease.
Recommended
Daily Allowance: Nutritionists would suggest that the total intake of fat
should be anywhere between 15 - 30 percent of total calories. This depends on
your physical activity. Therefore a moderately active person can consume
approximately 30% of his/her daily calories through fats, while a sedentary
person should ideally cut it down to 10-15%. Keep in mind that these are active
additions to the diet, but almost every food has its own share of fat,
therefore, some experts argue that even without extra fat addition to diet, you
could be consuming a minimum of 10% fat every day.
What is Cholesterol?
Cholesterol
is produced by the body to help build cells and a membrane around the cell to
protect it. Cholesterol is not fat per se, but it is a waxy chemical compound
produced by the liver, it is found in cheese, eggs, butter and meat (especially
red fatty meat). This compound is carried via the blood with the help of
molecules called lipoprotein. Excess cholesterol is not healthy for the heart;
it can increase your chances of cardiovascular diseases.
How
is cholesterol measured? Cholesterol is measured against counts for LDL - bad
cholesterol, and HDL - good cholesterol. LDL should be maximum 130 mg and HDL
can be approximately 70mg. In combination, both must not add up to more than
200 mg.
Source: Times of India
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